Outrigger mast for crane

ABSTRACT

An outrigger mast for a crane is composed of a multiplicity of tapering, preferably complementarily frustopyramidal segments of substantially identical height but progressively decreasing cross sections detachably interconnected at adjoining faces, alternate segments being capable of nesting in one another, a rollercarrying header, removably secured to the top segment of the mast or of a section thereof, is adjustable to fit segments of different sizes.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority Heinrich Wilhelm Heyer Straelen, Germany Apr. 3, 1968 Jan. 26, 197 1 Coles Krane G.m.b.11. Duisburg-Meiderich, Germany a corporation of Germany Apr. 6, 1967 Germany OUTRIGGER MAST FOR CRANE 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl B66c 23/62 Field of Search 212/58, 59,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,622 4/1957 Priest 212/70 FOREIGN PATENTS 284,369 10/1966 Australia: 52/726 1,195,447 6/1965 Germany 212/144 966,981 8/1964 Great Britain 212/144 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Attorney-Karl F. Ross ABSTRACT: An outrigger mast for a crane is composed of a multiplicity of tapering, preferably complementarily frustopyramidal segments of substantially identical height but progressively decreasing cross sections detachably interconnected at adjoining faces, alternate segments being capable of nesting in one another, a roller-carrying header, removably secured to the top segment of the mast or of a section thereof, is adjustable to fit segments of different sizes.

PATENTED JANZB Ian SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENTEU mam 3551969 SHEET 2 BF 3 7 "FIGS Heinrich W. Heyer IN VE N TOR.

S3 av g Attorney PATENTED JANZB IBYI OUTRIGGER MAST FOR CRANE My present invention relates to a crane having an outrigger mast tiltably mounted on a base, e.g. a platform carried by a self-propelled vehicle.

It is customary to construct such outrigger masts from a series of detachably interconnected segments designed to facilitate transportation and storage in a dismantled condition.

The principal object of this invention is to reduce the space required for such transportation and storage by so designing these segments that, upon disassembly, they may be conveniently nested in one another. Another important object is to provide a construction of this type which,without materially increasing the overall weight of the mast, enhances its stability and load-carrying capacity.

It is also an object of my invention to providea header carrying one or more guide rollers for hoisting cables which can be conveniently fitted to differently sized segments of such a mast.

An outrigger mast according to this invention is composed, over its entire length or at least over the length of a major section, of a multiplicity of progressively tapering segments of substantially identical height, preferably of complementarily frustopyramidal configuration, which are detachably interconnected, the topmost segment of this assembly carrying the aforementioned header.

Advantageously, according to a further feature of my invention, the frustopyramidal segments are generally basketshaped, with or without a bottom framework, and are so dimensioned that alternate segments of the mast, i.e. the first, third, fifth etc. and the second, fourth, sixth etc. segments, fit together for storage in nested relationship. Thus, the entire mast can be disassembled and reduced to two relatively short stacks requiring only a minimum of storage space.

Depending upon the length of the mast, i.e. whether all or only some of the available segments are used, the topmost segment may be smaller or larger. The roller-carrying header fitted to this segment is therefore preferably so constructed as to be adjustable in its transverse. dimensions for ready at tachment to any of these segments.

The invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a crane provided with an outrigger mast according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the topmost segment of a major section of the mast of FIG. 1 with a roller-carrying header attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a face view of the header taken on the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a pair of flatcars carrying the disassembled mast of FIG. 1 in the form of two stacks;

FIG. 5 is an end view of one of the stacks of FIG. 4, taken on the line V-V thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing another header visible in FIG. 1.

The crane illustrated in FIG. ll comprises a mast, generally designated 3, pivoted through the intermediary of a bottom segment 2 to a rotatable platform 22 on a self-propelled vehicle 1; this platform also carries a base 7, formed for example by a pair of parallel arms of telescoped construction, which is swingable about the fulcrum 23 of mast 3 under the control of hydraulic jacks 24.

Mast 3 has a main section, consisting of ten segments 3a-3j terminating at a header 5 which is secured to the topmost segment 3] and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. A wedge piece 4, carried by header 5, detachably secures to it a terminal section composed of three further segments 3k, 31 and 3m.

All the segments 3a to 3m are detachably interconnected, along with wedge piece 4, via respective lugs 3 projecting from their ends; see particularly FIGS. 2 and 5. These lugs, suitably offset on adjoining segments, are perforated to accommodate fastening bolts or the like. Header 5 also has lugs 3" which are carried on respective corner portions or blocks 10 thereof, these blocks being bifurcate for the support of guide rollers 13. The blocks 10 have the shape of flat tubes and are interconnected, in pairs, by two flat bars II on which these tubes are telescopically slidable and to which they may be fastened, in different positions, by pins 12 entering any of several holes 12 in the sides of the bars. In the transverse direction these blocks are similarly interconnected by rods 16 received in coupling sleeves 15, pins 17 again serving to immobilize the connections in one of several positions by passing through holes 17 in the rods 16. Thus, the corner blocks 10 supporting the rollers I3 may be spaced apart to the extent necessary for fitting the header 5 onto the narrower end of top segment 3j or of some lower segment of the principal mast section.

A similar header 6, with but two roller pairs 18 (FIG. 6), is connected in an analogous manner to the terminal segment 3m; if desired, header 6 may also be made adjustable in the manner described for header 5.

Each of the segments of mast 3 is generally basket-shaped, with a larger frame 25 at the major base and with a smaller frame 26 at the minor base of the frustopyramid, the corners of these frames being interconnected by struts 27. A reinforcing framework 21a, 21c, 21c extends across the bottom of the basket, i.e. the minor base of the frustopyramid, as illustrated in FIG. 5 for segments 311, 3c and 32. The sides of the basket may also be reinforced by trusses 20 as shown in FIG. 2 and indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate how the odd-numbered segments 3a, 30, 3e etc. and the even-numbered segments 3b, 3d, 3f etc. may be nested together to form a pair of stacks that can be conveniently loaded on flatcars 14a, 1417. Only three segments per stack have been shown, for the save of clarity.

Cables 8, 9 and 9a, rising from base 22, extend toward the headers 5 and 6, cable 9 passing around rollers 13 of header 5 and around a pulley I9 (FIG. 1) of a hoisting block 19 whereas cable 9a terminates at another hoisting block 19a after passing around rollers 18 of header 6. The free upper end of hoisting cable 9 is anchored to the header 5, as by being looped around the lower sleeve 15 shown in FIG. 3, whereas a control cable 8 is anchored to another part of this header, e.g. to the upper sleeve 15. Both the control cable 8 and the hoisting cable 9, 9a are manipulated in the usual manner by an operator in a cabin, not shown, on the vehicle 1.

The progressive tapering of the mast 3 adapts it for the handling of greater loads than conventional masts of comparable weight assembled from identical segments of cylindrical or prismatic shape; especially the upper segments may be considerably reduced in comparison with known masts of like carrying capacity. Naturally, the crane shown in FIG. 1 may also be used without the terminal sections 3k-3m, and the headers 5, 6 may be fitted with a larger or smaller number of rollers. These and other modifications, readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Iclaim:

1. In a crane, in combination, an outrigger mast having at least a major section composed of a multiplicity of progressively tapering segments detachably interconnected, said segments being substantially of the same height, and a header secured to the topmost segment, said header being provided with roller means for the guidance of at least one hoisting cable, said segments being of complementarily frustopyramidal configuration, said header being detachably joined to said topmost segment and comprising a plurality of relatively movable parts provided with fastening means for locking same in different relative positions conforming to the sizes of the minor bases of different segments selectively securable thereto, said parts and said minor bases being provided with complementary coupling formations.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said segments are generally basket shaped.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein each of said segments comprises a pair of rectangular frames forming the together for storage in nested relationship.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said roller means comprises at least one roller on each of said parts. 

1. In a crane, in combination, an outrigger mast having at least a major section composed of a multiplicity of progressively tapering segments detachably interconnected, said segments being substantially of the same height, and a header secured to the topmost segment, said header being provided with roller means for the guidance of at least one hoisting cable, said segments being of complementarily frustopyramidal configuration, said header being detachably joined to said topmost segment and comprising a plurality of relatively movable parts provided with fastening means for locking same in different relative positions conforming to the sizes of the minor bases of different segments selectively securable thereto, said parts and said minor bases being provided with complementary coupling formations.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said segments are generally basket shaped.
 3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein each of said segments comprises a pair of rectangular frames forming the major and minor bases of the frustopyramid, and struts interconnecting corresponding corners of said frames.
 4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said frames are so dimensioned that alternate segments of said section fit together for storage in nested relationship.
 5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said roller means comprises at least one roller on each of said parts. 